Cluster validity indices are used for both estimating the quality of a clustering algorithm and for determining the correct number of clusters in data. Even though several indices exist in the literature, most of them are only relevant for data sets that contain at least two clusters. This paper introduces a new bounded index for cluster validity called the score function (SF), a double exponen...

Although the McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD) has shown validity in adult samples, only one study has explored its validity in adolescents and, to our knowledge, the measure has not been validated with inpatient adolescents. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the reliability, and convergent and criterion validity, of the MSI-BPD in an effort to...

In RSS aggregator, the important issue is how to make the feeds information more manageable for RSS subscriber. In this paper, we propose a suffix tree based RSS feeds document clustering in Chinese RSS aggregator. We construct a suffix tree with meaningful Chinese words, and choose the phrases with high score given by a formula as document features. We cluster document using group-average algo...

The limitations in general methods to evaluate clustering will remain difficult to overcome if verifying the clustering validity continues to be based on clustering results and evaluation index values. This study focuses on a clustering process to analyze crisp clustering validity. First, we define the properties that must be satisfied by valid clustering processes and model clustering processe...

background: medical education curriculum improvements can be a chieved by evaluating students' performance. medical students have to pass two undergraduate comprehensive examinations, basic science and preinternship, in iran. purpose: to measure validity of the students' mean score in comprehensive basic science exam (cbse) for predicting their performance in later curriculum phases. methods: t...

Some major problems in clustering are: i) find the optimal number K of clusters; ii) assess the validity of a given clustering; iii) permit the classes to form natural shapes rather than forcing them into normed balls of the distance function; iv) prevent the order in which the feature vectors are read in from affecting the clustering; and v) prevent the order of merging from affecting the clus...

in this study it has been initiated to find out the credit strength and financial performance of cement industries in bangladesh through investigating the financial report for the period from 2007 to 2011. financial ratios are employed to measure the liquidity (working capital to total assets), profitability (retained earnings to total assets), efficiency (earnings before interest and taxes to ...

Different clustering algorithms achieve different results to certain data sets because most clustering algorithms are sensitive to the input parameters and the structure of data sets. Cluster validity, as the way of evaluating the result of the clustering algorithms, is one of the problems in cluster analysis. In this paper, we build up a framework for cluster validity process, meanwhile a sum-...

OBJECTIVE To extend the health-related quality of life assessment literature by examining the reliability and validity of Sizing Me Up in a community sample of nontreatment-seeking overweight and obese children. METHODS Participants included 302 students (M age = 10.34) recruited from 6 elementary schools, who completed self-report measures of health-related quality of life and weight-related...

BACKGROUND Symptom and pulmonary function measures of asthma severity are used for severity classification in practice guidelines. However, there is limited methodological evidence in support of their validity and utility. AIM To validate initial symptom and forced expiratory volume (FEV1) measures of asthma severity with the subsequent risks of exacerbations resulting in emergency room (ER) ...